WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — DC Police are investigating an assault in the Capitol Hill neighborhood that sent a man to the hospital Saturday night. It happened near the intersection of 14th Street and E Street Southeast in Capitol Hill.
Josh Nassar a neighbor, says he opened his front door to find someone needing help.
“Came out and the gentleman was on his back screaming in pain, really in agony, laying right in the grass over there," said Nassar. "I just wanted to know how badly he was hurt and what we could do to help."
Police say, the victim was ambushed by a group of around a dozen people.
“I did think I was going to die. I did, in that moment. I didn’t think they would stop," said the victim of the attack, who did not want to be identified.
He says he was walking home from the grocery store when he saw a large group of what looked like young adults wearing ski masks and dressed in black.
“I just had a bad feeling, and I tried to avoid them," he said. "I walked past, but as I walked past, the guy stepped aside towards me and punched me in the gut. I turned around and swore at him and then I turned around back to continue walking and then another guy did the exact same thing, punched me in the gut. I turned around to confront this guy and someone hit me in the back of the head and then I collapsed.”
The victim says that’s when they took his wallet, and the attacks continued.
"Everyone just piled on top of me," he said. "They were kicking me on the ground, they were kicking my head, they were using tasers to tase me."
The victim tells WUSA9 he did notice some fraudulent charges on his credit card Sunday morning, but he doesn’t believe the attackers approached him with the sole intent of robbing him.
“They didn’t take my cell phone, so I feel like they just felt like beating someone up," he said. "I don’t think it was about stealing.”
The victim told WUSA9 he was taken to the hospital Saturday night with a dislocated shoulder and a concussion. He also received staples in the back of his head and a CT scan.
He says, this isn’t the first crime he’s fallen victim to since moving to DC in 2022.
“There should just be a police presence, because it’s not fair that we have to live in fear like this. I’ve got a little baby now and, honestly, I don’t want to be in DC anymore. I just don’t," he said. "I think it’s ridiculous how there’s no one around. I mean, these guys are wearing ski masks going around, doing stuff all the time. I can’t imagine I’m the only one that this has happened to."
Police are still searching for those responsible in Saturday night’s attack.